New Delhi, Sep.7 (ANI): The death toll in Wednesday's bomb blast outside gate number five of the Delhi High Court complex rose to twelve, while the number of injured climbed to over 60, according to latest reports.
Cutting across party lines, leaders condemned the incident, describing it as tragic and unfortunate.
Union Home Minister P.Chidambaram after delivering a statement on the incident in the Lok Sabha shortly after noon, visited the blast site for about ten minutes and interacted with officials investigating at the site.
Delhi High Court Bar Council president Rakesh Tikku said: "The Home Minister visited the blast site and he assured that better arrangements will maintained here, like installation of CCTV cameras, the lack of which is a major setback of such mishaps."
"He visited the main blast site and insured for major security beef up," he added.
"Terrorist attack, either outside or inside the gate of high court is matter of concern for police. Can't slam any minister over it," Tikku said.
Senior BJP leader V.K.Malhotra said: " For the past so many days, it was in the news that Delhi is the main target of terrorists. It is a matter of great concern and a major mistake. It is essential to tighten up the security of the country to guard the public."
Another senior BJP leader L.K.Advani said in parliament that the nation was united and one with the government in condemning the terror strike, and hoped the government would take the appropriate counter-terror steps to nullify terrorists in the future and for all time to come.
Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said: "This is a terrible tragic incident. I have no words to express my sorrow for the inncocent people who died and got injured in the blast. Lawyers and judges should sit together and discuss the nitty gritty of this mishap."
BJP president Nitin Gadkari said: "It is very unfortunate that one by one bomb blasts are taking place in the country. The way innocent people have died and got injured, is a matter of prime concern."
"The government should take serious steps for the security of the country. I believe the government is not serious about it. Terrorism and terrorists are active. people are furious about this incident. So, I request the public to be calm and maintain their unity," he added.
Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi, however, faced the ire of the general public when visited the blast injured at the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital this afternoon.
An angry public and relatives of the blast victims shouted slogans and asked him to go home or back to where he came from.
Director General of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) S.C. Sinha said: "In pursuance of the government directions to take over the investigations of the Delhi High Court blast, the NIA will take over the case."
"A 20-member team has been formed. The chief investigation officer of the case would be Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Nitish Kumar. We cannot comment over the mail sent by HUJI group, but will surely consider it," he added.
"Very shortly, we will disclose the kind of explosive being used for the blast. The investigation is open completely," Sinha said.
The blast outside the high court took place around 10.14 a.m. this morning. The government immediately delcared a nation-wide alert and roped in key investigating agencies like the National Security Guard (NSG), the National Investigation Agency (NIA), SWAT teams, bomb squads and Delhi Police to carry out a thorough investigation into the incident.
The survivors of the blast have been admitted to three hospitals-the Ram Manohar Lohia Hosiptal, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences and the Jayaprakash Narayan Hospital for treatment. (ANI)
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